Mr Zeichner was among only nine Labour MPs to oppose the non-binding amended motion, and one Tory - former chancellor Ken Clarke.

Faced with a revolt by up to 40 Tory MPs, the Prime Minister on Tuesday bowed to pressure and backed a Labour motion which said she should publish a plan before triggering the formal process of leaving the EU.

In return, most of the rebels and Labour backed a compromise Government amendment to support Mrs May's pledge to invoke Article 50 to start Brexit by April.

The symbolic motion was approved by 448 votes to 75, majority 373.

Those to vote against the motion also included 51 SNP MPs, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and five Liberal Democrats, among others.

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Speaking before the vote, Mr Zeichner told the News : "Basically, Labour is very pleased with this because it appears to have forced Theresa May to reveal something about her plans for Brexit, which she’s not revealed a lot of so far. Today’s debate has no binding effect on government, it’s more indicative. But there will be a vote on the motion. It cannot commit the government to anything.

“I am consistent in what I have said and with my voting. I will not be voting to leave the EU.

“This will be an incredibly long saga. Our economy will grind to a halt if we are not part of a customs union. The country will get very bored and fed up with these discussions.”

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Mr Zeichner said the uncertainty created by the turmoil over the Brexit negotiations was already having effects in Cambridge.

He said that only today (Wednesday) a group of eminent Cambridge academics wrote to him to announce they were relocating to California because of the uncertainty.

“A group of Cambridge academics wrote to me this morning saying they were going to move to California,” said Mr Zeichner. “It’s a shame. I can’t name names, but they have made a big contribution to Cambridge. I wrote back saying how sad I was to hear the news. They are very important for the city. It’s just more evidence of the effect it’s having on Cambridge.”

MPs held two votes tonight, with the first to add the Government amendment to the original Labour motion approved by 461 votes to 89, majority 372.

This was opposed by 23 Labour MPs (including Mr Zeichner) and one Conservative in the form of Mr Clarke.